By Peter Adelowo
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has warned that Section One of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway may be closed to traffic if motorists continue to flout traffic rules and endanger lives.
Umahi gave the warning in Lagos while parading three suspects arrested for vandalising reflective road lights on the Third Mainland Bridge.
He explained that the road was temporarily opened during the Christmas period to ease traffic, but traffic indiscipline, including driving against traffic and over-speeding, led to serious congestion and the death of one road user.
The minister disclosed that a construction worker was recently killed by a speeding vehicle along the corridor, raising serious safety concerns.
He said the Federal Government, in collaboration with Lagos State traffic authorities and security agencies, would deploy personnel to manage traffic around the construction area.
Umahi warned that if traffic violations persist after one week, the Federal Government would have no option but to close the affected section of the highway until construction is completed.
He also clarified that reports of buildings marked for demolition were due to an error and assured residents that there was no plan to demolish completed houses.
